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Ocean Spirit Michaelmas Cay Cruise Private Charter

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Departure Times

Departs: 8:30am - Please Enquire
Returns: 5:00pm - Please Enquire

Venture out to the stunning tropical oasis of Michaelmas Cay with an Ocean Spirit Private Charter!

  • Full day private charter from Cairns on a spacious, 32m sailing catamaran
  • Snorkel, sunbathe, scuba dive, and explore around the pristine sand cay
  • See the flourishing marine life of the Great Barrier Reef
  • Expert crew onboard to help you with water activities and educate you about the island
  • The perfect combination of relaxation and adventure

Enjoy a fabulous day out in nature with a Private Charter on Ocean Spirit's Michaelmas Cay Cruise! Departing from Cairns, you'll have an action-packed day immersed in the tropical beauty of the Great Barrier Reef. Explore the pristine sandy cay, Michaelmas Cay, while checking out the flourishing marine life and birdlife that thrives in this natural oasis. Swim, snorkel, scuba dive, relax, and cherish every moment at this gorgeous, secluded location!

Highlights:

  • Private charter on Ocean Spirit 
  • Modern and spacious 32m sailing catamaran
  • Sail from Cairns to the picturesque Michaelmas Cay
  • Spend 4 hours exploring at your destination
  • Snorkel in the surrounding Great Barrier Reef
  • Try scuba diving
  • Expert instructors and high quality snorkel or dive gear provided
  • Guided marine biologist tours available
  • Fish feeding presentations
  • Go below the waves with semi-sub for a diver’s view of the reef 
  • Observe the birdlife on the island sanctuary
  • Hot and cold buffet lunch
  • Morning and afternoon tea included
  • Glass of complimentary sparkling wine served on the journey home

aerial view of michaelmas cay and ocean spirit vessel

Sample Itinerary

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Full Ocean Spirit Itinerary

Your private charter on Ocean Spirit is flexible, but you may choose to follow the same sample itinerary that most guided tours do. The itinerary is designed to provide guests with the most amazing day out on the water, full of free time for activities and time to relax as well. 

  • 7.30 am - Check-in at Ocean Spirit’s counter inside the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
  • 8:00...

Read More

Full Ocean Spirit Itinerary

Your private charter on Ocean Spirit is flexible, but you may choose to follow the same sample itinerary that most guided tours do. The itinerary is designed to provide guests with the most amazing day out on the water, full of free time for activities and time to relax as well. 

  • 7.30 am - Check-in at Ocean Spirit’s counter inside the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
  • 8:00 am - Board the vessel and enjoy complimentary tea and coffee until departure
  • 8:30 am - Depart Cairns for Michaelmas Cay and the Great Barrier Reef
  • 9:00 am - Safety demonstration and snorkelling demonstrations
  • 9:30 am - Informative Marine Biologist slideshow presentation about the reef
  • 10:00 am - Dive brief for introductory divers
  • 10:30 am - Arrive at Michaelmas Cay! You can spend the next few hours participating in numerous activities such as snorkelling, joining a semi-submersible coral viewing tour, or trying intro scuba diving. Or just swim and relax, it's up to you! There will be more time for water activities and exploring after lunch.
  • 12:00 pm - 1.30 pm - Buffet lunch served onboard, then have more free time for activities
  • 2:30 pm - Afternoon tea is served onboard
  • 3:00pm - Depart Michaelmas Cay for the return journey to Cairns. A glass of complimentary sparkling wine is served on the homeward journey along with cheese and crackers.
  • 5:00 pm - Arrive back in Cairns

couple walking on michaelmas cay sand near cairns


Michaelmas Cay Activities

During your free time on this stunning sand cay, you'll be able to try lots of fun activities. Snorkel amongst the colourful corals, observe the marine life from the surface on a semi-sub tour, or sign up for intro scuba diving! All snorkel and dive gear is provided and the expert staff will make sure you're feeling comfortable in the water. The only requirements for scuba diving are that divers are over 12 years of age, pass the onboard medical questionnaire and participate in our 30-minute dive brief! You can also stroll on the sand, admire the seabirds that thrive here, sunbathe, or relax on the spacious boat. 

scuba divers exploring the ocean floor of great barrier reef

Vessel Specifications

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Ocean Spirit is a majestic sailing catamaran perfect for long days of water adventures. Your private charter includes all the amenities of Ocean Spirit, plus an experienced team of staff to ensure everything is running smoothly. 

  • 2 hour motorised sail charter
  • 32 meter sailing catamaran
  • Semi-submarine/glass bottom boat available for tours
  • Credit card facilities onboard for purchases
  • Non-smoking...

Read More

Ocean Spirit is a majestic sailing catamaran perfect for long days of water adventures. Your private charter includes all the amenities of Ocean Spirit, plus an experienced team of staff to ensure everything is running smoothly. 

  • 2 hour motorised sail charter
  • 32 meter sailing catamaran
  • Semi-submarine/glass bottom boat available for tours
  • Credit card facilities onboard for purchases
  • Non-smoking vessel
  • Plenty of seating areas
  • Toilets onboard
  • Beach buggy and glass bottom boat to transfer guests from the boat to the island

sailing catamaran ocean spirit cruising on the ocean

More Information

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What To Bring

  • Hat
  • Towel
  • Swimwear
  • Sunscreen
  • Cash or credit card for souvenirs or optional activities
  • Camera (drones are not permitted)

What's Included

  • Ocean Spirit private charter cruise from Cairns
  • Experience 4 hrs at Michaelmas Cay on the Reef
  • Morning and afternoon teas
  • Hot and cold buffet lunch served onboard Ocean Spirit
  • Fish feeding presentation by crew
  • Snorkelling equipment, lycra suits and buoyancy vests
  • Marine Biologist presen...

Read More

What To Bring

  • Hat
  • Towel
  • Swimwear
  • Sunscreen
  • Cash or credit card for souvenirs or optional activities
  • Camera (drones are not permitted)

What's Included

  • Ocean Spirit private charter cruise from Cairns
  • Experience 4 hrs at Michaelmas Cay on the Reef
  • Morning and afternoon teas
  • Hot and cold buffet lunch served onboard Ocean Spirit
  • Fish feeding presentation by crew
  • Snorkelling equipment, lycra suits and buoyancy vests
  • Marine Biologist presentation
  • Semi-submersible coral viewing tour with commentary
  • Complimentary glass of sparkling wine on return journey

What's Extra

  • Coach transfers are available at an additional cost with pick-ups from most Cairns and Northern Beaches accommodations.
  • Introductory scuba diving and marine biologist guided snorkel tours.

Diving Information

  • The minimum age for Introductory Scuba Diving is 12 years. Certain medical conditions, medications and height restrictions may preclude some people from participating in optional in-water activities. For advice, contact our office. After a single dive, a wait of 12-24 hours is recommended before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater. If doing multiple dives an interval of 24 hours is suggested.
  • Please click here for more diving information and to read the medical questionnaire.

Terms and Conditions

Important Information

The minimum age for introductory scuba diving is 12 years. Certain medical conditions, medications and height restrictions may preclude some people from participating in optional in-water activities. After a single dive, a wait of 12 hours is recommended before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater. If doing multiple dives an interval of 24 hours is suggested.

Please click here for more diving information and to read the medical questionnaire.


All information provided at any time by Cairns Tours and our affiliates is subject to these Terms & Conditions. This includes but is not limited to tour information, pricing, blog posts, travel advice, itinerary information and availability.

Your Responsibilities:

Please advise us before booking if any passengers are under 18 years old to ensure this is the appropriate trip. 

You must reconfirm all booked tours prior to travel as specified on your voucher. If applicable, notes such as dietary requirements, pick-up locations and additional fees should also be confirmed at this time. Reconfirmations cannot be actioned through Cairns Tours/Mr Travel and must be done so directly through the Service Operator as specified on each ticket.

It is your responsibility to notify us of ticket discrepancies. Please read through the details on your voucher thoroughly to ensure all details such as passenger names, ages and dates of travel on vouchers are correct.

It is the responsibility of all passengers travelling to advise both your travel agent at the time of booking and check-in agent before boarding of any medical conditions including food allergies you may suffer from.

You need to allow adequate time to check-in prior to the specified departure time. Please refer to the specific tour page for full check-in instructions.


Prices/Extra Costs:

All prices are stated in Australian dollars and include GST. The Service Operator reserves the right to alter prices and extra costs. Extra costs may include EMC fees, Stingersuit/Wetsuit Hire, Luggage Storage, Insurance, Linen Hire, National Park Fees, Fuel Levies, Dietary Fees, etc. Bonds may also apply.

We will also endeavour to communicate these extra costs with you at the time of booking, and on your ticket. However, it is your responsibility to confirm which (if any) additional costs apply with each Service Operator upon reconfirming your trip.


Travel Risk/Insurance:

It should be noted that adventure travel involves risk. Whilst we make every effort to safeguard clients, we cannot be responsible for personal injury or loss due to the actions of our clients which are beyond our control. We highly recommend that all clients have travel insurance covering illness, injury, loss or damage to personal belongings and not being able to travel on the confirmed date of departure. You should also ensure your travel insurance will cover special circumstances including weather events preventing guests from travelling to their tour departure destination and cancelled flights due to unforeseen circumstances. 


Transport:

It should be noted that any transport you have booked (buses, flights and ferries) through Cairns Tours is non-refundable and non-transferable. It might be possible to change flights however do note this must be done directly with the flight operator and we are unable to offer any support with this. This may incur change fees or cancellation fees, it depends on the T+Cs of the flight operators themselves. As we acted as a booking agent for you, it is possible to liaise with the airline directly should there be any unexpected events and the airline is forced to cancel your flights. If there are any changes to your flight times or days, we will get notified and send this email directly to you in a reasonable time.


Merchant Fees:

Please be aware operators pass on credit card merchant fees so there is a non-refundable 1% surcharge for VISA and MASTERCARD card purchases.


Other: 

Terms and Conditions (including the Cancellation Policy) are subject to change. The most recent versions can be found online on the relevant product pages. 

All ticket/voucher reissues attract a $20 administration fee.


Transfers:

The Service Operator reserves the right to limit courtesy transfers to select local accommodations. Private residences or Airbnb properties may be asked to meet at the closest confirmed location. Failure to meet at the specified pick-up location may be treated as “No Show”, for which the Client Cancellation Policy applies. Not all tours offer transfers, please refer to the individual product to see if this is applicable to your tour.


Open Date Vouchers / Gift Certificate:

Shipping Costs are in addition to the ticket price and will be added at check-out. Shipping costs are non-refundable and do not makeup part of the ticket value. 

E-Vouchers incur no shipping fees.

You have 5 years to use the value of the voucher. Seasonal Price Rises will apply if travelling out the current seasons pricing. Vouchers can be exchanged for free up to the full value of the voucher excluding credit card fees and charges.

Cancellations

Client Cancellations:

All cancellations forfeit 25% of the recommended retail price (RRP) - not the discounted/sale price. No shows or client cancellations made within 24 hours of departure forfeit 100% of the total ticket price. Client cancellations made within 48 hours of departure forfeit 50% of the total ticket price. 

Cairns Tours is required to notify the operator of any cancellations within the specified cancellation period. It is your responsibility to make sure you submit your cancellation request with adequate time, and during standard business hours (9am-5pm), to allow us to contact the tour provider.

Transfers between tours can be made at the suppliers' discretion, however, it should be noted that supplier fees may apply. Tour transfers also incur a $20 administration fee. 

It is compulsory that all cancellation requests are in writing and sent via email to: admin@mr-travel.com. Cancellations attempted via online chat or phone will not be actioned.


Supplier Cancellations:

The Service Operator reserves the right to alter prices, alter itineraries, apply a fuel surcharge, cancel departures, arrange alternative transport and vary itineraries and services if necessary.

All departures and itineraries are subject to weather. Tours may be changed or cancelled for any reason at the discretion of the Service Operator. If the Service Operator has to cancel the trip or activity (prior to departure) and we cannot offer a suitable alternative, then a refund will be given minus a 20% administration fee and any associated card fees. We strongly recommend that you have travel insurance, especially during the wet season.

All add-on activities (including but not limited to scuba diving, stand-up paddleboarding, helmet diving, guided snorkel tours, banana boat rides and waterslides) are subject to availability and price changing, and may not be available during your tour without notice. Guests are not eligible for refunds on the grounds of non-operating extra activities.

In the unlikely event of your trip being cancelled or stood down, all guest communication is required to go through our Online Store via telephone or email. While there is a Travel Shop retail outlet located in Cairns, please be aware that they operate as a separate entity and are unable to access reservations made by the Cairns Tours/Mr Travel online department.


Refunds:

All refunds are in Australian Dollars and must be made to the card of payment. Cairns Tours/Mr Travel is not liable for exchange rate fluctuations or fees, or any other merchant/bank fees associated with domestic and/or international transactions.

Where a full refund is applicable, there is the option to transfer the whole cost of the tour to another tour or “Credit” to avoid the administration fee. A transfer fee of $20 will apply.

You will be emailed confirmation once the refund has been processed. Once the refund has been processed, it may still take time for the banks to clear the amount. Please allow 7-10 business days for the funds to clear into Australian accounts and up to 21 business days for international accounts.


Accountability/Misconduct:

All Service Operators have the right to provide client feedback and to cancel bookings based off of feedback from other Service Operators. 

Please enjoy your travel experience in a kind and responsible manner.

Cairns Tours/Mr Travel will treat this as any normal client cancellation and therefore the cancellation fees stated in the Client Cancellation Policy will apply.


Information & Advice:

All information, advice or pricing provided by Cairns Tours and our affiliates, or through any of our team, is subject to change. Cairns Tours articles and products are provided online for general information purposes only and are intended as guides. Any advice interpreted from information on the website (including but not limited to financial, immigration, employment and tax information) is not specialist advice and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional instruction. Cairns Tours does not guarantee that any information provided is up-to-date or accurate. Please obtain professional advice before actioning any advice, including but not limited to tax, immigration, employment, travel restrictions and finances.


Thank you for booking with our East-Coast travel experts here at Cairns Tours/ Mr Travel. If you would like any further advice, assistance in arranging accommodation, transfers or additional tours please get in touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to sail to Michaelmas Cay?

Travelling time from Cairns to Michaelmas Cay is approximately 2 hours. It’s a gorgeous cruise as you pass all the tropical scenery, so it's part of the fun!

Is this charter suitable for children?

Yes! This private charter is suitable for all ages. Michaelmas Cay is a shallow, sandy beach area that is ideal for children and families to play and swim. Just make sure to bring suitable sun protection and flotation devices if needed.

Do I need prior experience to go scuba diving?

No, intro divers don't need prior experience. As long as you are in general good health to dive, the highly qualified dive instructors will teach you all the basics you need to know about scuba diving. Certain medical conditions may preclude some people from Scuba Diving. Please check with your doctor ahead of time if you have any concerns.

What is the minimum age for scuba diving?

The minimum age to scuba dive is 12 years.

How long do we have at Michaelmas Cay?

You will get a full 4 hours at Michaelmas Cay, which gives you plenty of time to explore the area and participate in all of the included activities.

How do we book a private charter on Ocean Spirit?

Contact our travel experts to discuss your charter on Ocean Spirit. Every private charter is unique and flexible, so our experts are happy to chat with you about your desires for your experience.

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